Deerhound Breed Information

Deerhounds are a member of the ‘Hound’ breed group. The Hound group include breeds originally used for hunting either by scent or sight. They require a substantial amount of exercise and are considered to be aloof but trustworthy dogs.

Deerhounds are known to be gentle dogs. They get on well with children and make excellent family pets, given the right socialisation as a puppy. Their coats will require brushing 2-3 times per week as their adult coats in particular are prone to matting.

Breed-related health problems:

Owners are, understandably, upset when their dog develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they’d known what problems the breed was prone to have. The potential health problems that Deerhounds are prone to include:

• Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) – often known as ‘bloat’, this is a condition where the stomach twists, trapping the contents and gases. This is an emergency and requires urgent veterinary attention. It’s often seen in large, deep-chested breeds.
• Portosystemic shunt – abnormal blood circulation, with the blood effectively bypassing the liver and entering general circulation.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy - degeneration of heart muscles.
• Osteosarcoma – bone cancer.

For some conditions, there are screening programmes available through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club. The Canine Health Schemes allow breeders to screen for a range of inherited diseases, so it’s a good idea to check the parents of any puppy you’re looking to rehome have been screened under these schemes. We’d also recommend discussing the medical history of your potential puppy’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a dog with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.

You can find out more about the Canine Health Schemes on the BVA's website.

Exercise requirements:

Deerhounds love to run and will need over 2 hours of exercise per day, so will need an owner who can keep up! They do have a strong chase instinct, so be aware of this if they are around other pets at home and when out and about. For this reason, exercising in a contained area is important, as once the chase instinct has kicked in, it can be hard to regain their attention – so bear this in mind when training, as even basic training – and especially recall – will not always be easy. To learn more about socialisation, particularly with smaller household pets, and reward-based training for your dog, take a look at our dog behaviour page.

Estimated lifetime cost:

The likely lifetime costs for a Deerhound are based on estimates calculated using current market prices and include:

• Initial costs of the purchase of the pet
• Neutering
• First vaccinations and booster vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Accessories
• Food
• Pet insurance
• Toys
• Grooming
• Worming
• Flea treatments

The list above does not include veterinary costs if your pet becomes sick or injured, so these average lifetime costs could be even higher.

Insure your Deerhound with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like Deerhound Dogs that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your Deerhound with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your dog please visit our puppies and dogs section.

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a dog from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your dog from.

Not sure if the Deerhound is the right pet for you?